Calling all law enforcement agencies: we need your help! The Arkansas Prescription&#160;Drug Take Back Initiative is hosting it’s third Prescription Drug Take Back Event&#160;on October 29th, 2011, throughout the state of Arkansas. The amount of collections sites is not where we need it and you can help change that! &#160; How can you help, you ask? Sign your department up for a collection site! It is so easy to get involved and make a difference in your community and our great state. All you have to do is visit www.artakeback.org and click on ‘Register A Site’. Saving lives has never been so easy! &#160; Spread the word! Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of advertisement that exists.&#160;Tell your local pharmacies, businesses, and the people of&#160;your community and get the word out that we are taking back our state, one pill at a time. You can print materials off of the Arkansas DHS Share Point Site by clicking here and all materials are available for you to use as you choose (i.e. change them up, put your logo on them, etc.). Anything goes! &#160; Still questioning why we need YOU? Check out the top 10 reasons why everyone should get involved in the October 29th&#160;Prescription Drug&#160;Take Back Event: &#160; &#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;10) In 2007, the National Drug Czar’s Office reported that&#160;Arkansas&#160;teens had the worst&#160;prescription&#160;painkiller abuse rate in the nation. &#160; 9) According to the Little Rock Division of DEA, prescription drug abuse is second only to&#160;methamphetamine abuse as Arkansas’s top drug concern. &#160; 8)&#160;In the past 11 years, there has been a 520% increase in admissions to substance abuse treatment&#160;services for prescription drugs. &#160; 7) Pills collected in take backs will never be abused or cause an overdose. &#160; 6)&#160;In 2008, parents of pre-school aged children made approximately 100,000 trips to the ER due to&#160;accidental ingestion of prescription drugs.&#160;Pills collected in take backs will never be accidentally&#160;ingested by young children. &#160; 5)&#160;Pills collected in take backs are destroyed in the most environmentally-appropriate manner&#160;&#160;available and will never contaminate Arkansas waterways. &#160; 4)&#160;Nationwide, each day 2500 teens abuse prescription drugs for the first time. &#160; 3)&#160;Most teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from parents, relatives, or friends. &#160; 2)&#160;Almost half of U.S. teens believe prescription drugs are easy to get right from their parents’ own medicine cabinets own medicine cabinets. &#160; 1)&#160;In the past three years Arkansas youth prescription abuse rates have dropped in each and every&#160;measure, year, and age range.&#160;Your participation in the October 29 Prescription Drug Take Back will&#160;ensure this progress continues. &#160; On behalf of the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police, we urge you to get involved. Let’s show this state that we’re here to help! &#160; For additional information, please contact Steve Varady with&#160;the Office of the Drug Director&#160;at 501-618-8693.